IUCN threat status:

Distribution

Range Description

The primary habitat of New Zealand Sea Lions is several sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand and their surrounding waters. The principal breeding colony accounting for 86% of annual births is at the Auckland Islands, with a smaller number breeding at Campbell Island (Chilvers et al. 2007). New Zealand Sea Lions regularly occur in small numbers at Stewart Island and on the southeast coast of the South Island of New Zealand, where there are occasional births (Chilvers et al. 2007). However, most of the animals hauling out on the South Island are males ranging in age from 2-11 years old. Wandering New Zealand Sea Lions also reach Macquarie Island. Historically, New Zealand Sea Lions had a more extensive range that appears to have included most of New Zealand.